High Real Estate Group Puts “Shopper Experiences” First at The Crossings Groundbreaking

March 30, 2017—High Real Estate Group LLC formally broke ground on The Crossings at Conestoga Creek, an open-air shopping center located in Manheim Township, Lancaster, Pa. The $120M development represents the company’s first mixed-use incorporating retail, residential, and hospitality. A Wegmans food market of up to120,000 square feet, and the first in Lancaster County, will anchor the project.

“Wegmans brings people together in unmatched experiences that keep them wanting more,” said High Real Estate Group president and COO Mark Fitzgerald. “The Crossings at Conestoga Creek is all about unique, memorable, social, entertaining, and interactive experiences.” Fitzgerald explained that The Crossings will allow customers to see, touch, and experience in person goods and services in a social and entertaining environment. Restaurants, other food and beverage, and varied venues will be a major aspect of The Crossings. The project will feature 90,000 square feet of retail space, as much as one-third of which will be devoted to a vibrant dining scene of up to nine food and beverage venues.

Fitzgerald announced that the 127-suite extended stay hotel planned for the project would be a Residence Inn by Marriott. A new brand for High within the Marriott family of brands, it is also the largest extended stay hotel brand to date with more than 700 properties. As the first Residence Inn in Lancaster County, it will be developed, owned, and operated by High Hotels Ltd. as part of its portfolio of Hilton- and Marriott-branded hotels.

In addition, a 258-unit apartment community will be constructed following a smart growth strategy, according to High companies CEO Mike Shirk. “Reduced footprints for the buildings make more efficient use of the land and reduce environmental impact,” he said. Shirk estimated that The Crossings at Conestoga Creek will bring approximately 560 construction jobs and more than 700 direct full- and part-time jobs to Lancaster..

High Construction Company is serving as the construction manager for the retail, hotel, and apartment community. Greenfield Architects Ltd. designed the retail and hotel facilities.

High held the event under a tent at the project site, where guests were treated to charcuterie and other Wegmans fare courtesy of the food market’s Mechanicsburg, Pa. store. Nissley Vineyards and Lancaster Brewing Company were Wegmans local partners.